Daphne Jefferson, chair of South Hams Hospital League of Friends, of Fortescue Road, Salcombe, writes:

Open letter to Phil Norrey, chief executive of Devon County Council and responsible for paid services – according to the council website, he is responsible for ensuring the council is future-ready and that it makes the most of opportunities to be inventive, flexible and responsive to local needs.

Dear Mr Norrey,

I am writing in relation

to Devon County Council ­changing the rules established by South Hams Council, which allowed our first responder

to park on yellow lines in the ­centre of Salcombe.

The car is small and never caused a problem. I am horrified to learn that this facility has been withdrawn. Clearly the county council not aware

of the implications of with-

drawing this dispensation. The ­parking enforcement team state ‘they understand parking in Salcombe is in high demand, and to allow exemption from restrictions is not appropriate; other residents also have the same parking pressures’.

I would like to respectfully point out that other residents are not saving lives.

Salcombe residents are left with inadequate medical cover at weekends and nights and we rely on our first responders to actually save lives. They are amazing people who give up their time, with no pay, to attend to patients who need immediate help. Without their quick response people risk unnecessary death.

At a meeting with Sarah Wollaston, our MP, and Simon Stevens, the CEO of the NHS, last year it was made very clear the importance of the first responders to our area. I have to question whether the those in the parking enforcement team are the right people to be deciding on this critical issue.

It appears that Tim Hore’s patience is being pushed

to the limit and he is having

to ­question whether he can ­continue his work as a first responder after receiving three parking tickets and being made to park too far away.

I urge you to give this matter your serious consideration, because without first responders in Salcombe lives will be lost.